EUROSPORT ENHANCES TOUR DE FRANCE DEAL TO SHOW EVERY MINUTE LIVE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN 2017

The enhanced agreement with European Broadcasting Union and Amaury Sport Organisation, will see fans in 54 markets across Europe benefit from up to 25 hours more live Tour de France coverage for each of the next three years. The additional live action will come from 13 stages which have never previously been fully produced for TV broadcast.

Eurosport has also increased its exclusive coverage of the event with the majority of European markets receiving the new live hours on a fully or partially exclusive basis. Eurosport’s International feed will deliver 28% more live coverage of this year’s Tour de France compared to 2016**. The new agreement reinforces Eurosport’s long association with the Tour de France, with the event having first been shown on Europe’s number one sports destination in 1991.   

Peter Hutton, Eurosport CEO, said: “This is fantastic news for cycling fans who for the very first time will be able to watch every minute of the Tour de France live on Eurosport. We actively supported the change in the deal because we know that our viewers want to follow every climb, breakaway and sprint of the world’s most famous cycling race. The new arrangement is also great for professional cycling with teams, riders and sponsors getting more exposure, which we hope will help grow the sport and its audience.”   

Hutton added: “2017 was already a record year for Eurosport, with over 200 days of live cycling and 2,300 hours of coverage across our channels, and now we can offer every moment of the sport’s most iconic race. If you’re a cycling fan, Eurosport truly is the Home of Cycling and remains the best place to follow the sport.”

Eurosport’s unrivalled cycling calendar covers all three of the Grand Tours, plus 25 UCI World Tour events, including all five monuments. Eurosport continues to work with the biggest names in the sport for their unique analysis and insights, including three-time Tour de France winner, Greg LeMond, plus Tour stage winner, Juan Antonio Flecha and Sean Kelly, winner of nine monument classics.

Commenting on the announcement, Greg LeMond, said: “I’m thrilled for the millions of cycling fans across Europe who can now watch every second of the sport’s greatest race on Eurosport. As cycling fans appreciate, a Grand Tour can turn at any moment, so to be able to follow every minute live is a real game-changer. Eurosport continues to push the boundaries of cycling broadcasting in Europe and I’m proud to once again be part of their team this year.”

During this year’s Giro d’Italia Eurosport launched an unrivalled second-screen app experience for cycling fans which features live interactive maps with integrated rider data. Eurosport.com - Europe’s No 1 online sports news website – will continue to provide extensive digital coverage of the sport and Discovery Communications recent investment in the Play Sports Group will ensure that Eurosport content is accessible to a wider digital community of cycling fans.

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

 *1,350 hours based on up to 25 hours per market, across 54 markets.

 **82 broadcast hours in 2016 versus 105 hours scheduled for 2017 Tour de France.